Amtrak7 wrote:Starting with the May schedule change, platform work moves to overnights as tie work takes over the midday outages, which are extended to run PORT-AMITYVILLE.

So this project will put in new concrete ties & rail out to Amityville?Once again the Babylon is always getting the best while everything else is neglected. I know they probably won't install new ties & rail on the Main until the Third Track Project but they should at least have Concrete ties out to Floral Park (they currently end just east of Queens Village), and also the Huntington Branch between Hicksville & Huntington should have concrete ties, so far I've seen track work but they usually just do selective tie replacement and sadly replace them with more antiquated wood. These are some busy parts of the railroad that carry alot of traffic and some of these wood ties are in bad shape. Not sure about PW but they should have concrete too. Not sure why Babylon always gets the new stuff first? At least the 4 major branches should be all concrete by now. Plus the Atlantic Branch between Valley & Jamaica. Concrete is more reliable & lasts longer and just looks nicer.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

I think Mineola is scheduled to get concrete ties, but that is taking one track out of service to do so. Guarantee you this:

1.) When the Post Avenue project is underway, they will put concrete ties in as fast as they can.2.) During the Hicksville rehabilitation that is underway, boom Track 1 is now concrete ties.

Bellstbarn made my day the other day with those pictures because I missed my home, and the fact my maternal grandparents lived in Wantagh, my Mom was raised there, I was raised there for a few years, and I spent essentially 2-3 days out of every week and for a few hours everyday there.

Train 2735 (Speonk to Hunterspoint), which leaves Bay Shore at 6:25 a.m., has for years been a regular Track 2 express through Wantagh, usually passing at good speed about 6:42. Track 2 is available for about 90 minutes each weekday morning for westbound service. In recent weeks we have seen three or four diesel trains head west on Track 1 after Track 2 again has eastbounds. I have not been able to identify these trains, as I notice them only when I'm doing errands. We in Wantagh do see diesels on weekends regularly. On Friday afternoons, the Cannonball goes east, about 5:20 p.m. Train 2709 has had a regular slot on the montauk Division Monday to Friday.---I wonder whether the additional diesel trains westbound through Wantagh in the morning rush are because of construction in Hicksville. Are only 2 tracks available through Hicksville station? I'll have to get up there osme day to check out the work.Thanks.Joe

Last edited by bellstbarn on Mon Jun 12, 2017 9:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The following westbound trains have been diverted Montauk to reduce congestion caused by the Hicksville rehab, which closes 1 station. There are no direct conflicts, but the fewer trains the better when flexibility is limited.

It's beautiful! Well, it looks like the difficult aspect of Phase I is complete by having the entire new platform fully installed. Now they have to put up the canopy supports, the canopies themselves, signs, lights, billboards, elevator is coming off nicely, and of course the new waiting room with stairwells. All of that is easy compared to replacing the entire platform (CHECK!). Thank you for making my day Bellstbarn.